Do you ever go to the racetrack, and walk into the paddocks to view the thoroughbreds, and…automatically there is this pair of horses that have a stand-out shine of their own, like one is saying to the other, “I’m gona have yo ass today, fella.” And the other answers back, “Nah-ahh, y’ butt is mine, wiseguy.” You ain’t even in this thing!” “Oh, yeah, we’ll see you seein’ my ass at the finish line, bub!…” So…you just go wager 2 bucks on the 1-4 perfecta box and head out to the track. Casual, it’s 4 dollars pissed away. They aren’t the favorites…so cool. It’s a nice night, the 2-4 limit Texas Hold em tables are happening in about an hour. You climb up against the rail with a pretty girl in a long leather fall jacket. The race starts and it’s chill and in a kinda mist a few hours before a rain, they’ve left the gate, and the horses are making easy minutes of a mile, like in really quick slow motion off in the distant stretch before the 3rd turn. You look up at the sky and breath and then at her…and breath…and the 1 and the 4 are taking position around the 4th turn and it’s not particularly exhilarating because you kinda already felt it happen in the paddocks, don’t know how, don’t examine it any, …and it’s just the beginnings of a pleasant night all-round. &…they do come in first & second and you hand your best girl the ticket and smile; go collect your 130.00 and head upstairs for a cob salad & a Guinness? It’s a rarity (for me, anyway) but it has happened. The win scenario, that is, not the cob salad. A curtain opens up and some clarity ensues. A kinda gift to be seen if one is paying attention.
Well, do you remember the beginning of last night’s game, when they introduced the teams? The underdog, the challenger, is introduced first, like in a boxing match, and out come the Giants…glowing embers, piss-&-vinegar going out in every direction to the winds, stars in their eyes, pumped, Eli looking like a high school senior under Friday night lights on Senior Night, with his entire family in the stands and a winning season. Really, they had that shine on them. Unmistakable. Yeah, desire, who wouldn’t, but…. Then the Patriots are introduced, and even just before the announcement they are shown behind the scenes, and the look in Brady’s eyes is not the look of a QB in the Superbowl zone. He looks like he was just informed his investments had tanked & it’s too late to cover his shorts. Then upon entering the field, to Ozzy, the close-ups reveal sullen eyes on both Brady and Belichick. Not unyielding preparedness, but more the look of two gents who had just committed a crime they’d mutually agreed to cover up…or just simply two guys who were…in a bad way about the whole thing. I don’t know, ..................& I just kinda knew.
& I thought, …this is going to go well for Cass…& not too good for the shire, ...
& there’s going to be tickertape in NYC like it’s the end of WW!!.
It was a good game. All the best wishes for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers…& the Manning family.
